Supacat’s new ‘Coyote’ launched at DVD
01-07-2009The new `Coyote` Tactical Support Vehicle (Light), due to enter service later this year in support of operations in Afghanistan, received its official launch today by Quentin Davies, Minister, Defence Equipment and Services, at DVD, the annual event showcasing land equipment for the UK’s Armed Forces. Designed by Supacat, over 70 of the new Coyote vehicles are being manufactured by Babcock alongside the existing Jackal 2 production line.
“The `Coyote` is the latest Supacat product developed to meet the rapidly evolving operational requirements of our armed forces. Coyote is an exciting new variant that will take the capability levels, both in terms of protection and mobility, of support type platforms way above that previously on offer to the UK forces”, said Nick Ames, Managing Director, Supacat.
`Coyote` shares common design features with the Jackal 2 and provides the same increased levels of protection and mobility. It’s 6×6 configuration offers a higher payload of up to 3,000 kilos and provides a large, flexible load space at the rear of the vehicle. Powered by the same 6.7 litre turbo-charged Cummins engine `Coyote` is equipped with a gun-ring and seats up to four crew.
In April a £74 million contract was awarded to Supacat as prime contractor, supported by Babcock as vehicle manufacturer, in response to the UK MoD’s latest Urgent Operational Requirement (UOR) to deliver more than 70 of the new 6×6 `Coyote` TSV(L) and around 110 Jackal 2, the enhanced, latest iteration of the widely acclaimed ‘Jackal’ weapons-mounted 4×4 patrol vehicle, also designed by Supacat and manufactured by Babcock. The contract for Coyote and Jackal 2 is part of the £700 million Protected Mobility Package announced by the MoD in late 2008.
“The ‘Coyote’ will be built at Devonport using the same successful continuous improvement manufacturing techniques and ‘pulse line’ production that have been successfully applied to produce the Jackal vehicles at a rate of one per day,” Babcock Equipment Solutions Managing Director Roger Gillespie said. “A number of Jackal 2 patrol vehicles have already been built and delivered under the latest UOR contract, with the first of the Coyotes scheduled for delivery this month.”
To deliver the contract Supacat and Babcock have formed an innovative alliance to ensure the UK Armed Forces receive the best possible equipment within the shortest possible timescale, working with the MoD’s Protected Mobility Team in a close and open partnering relationship. As the design authority Supacat is responsible for design, development, prototyping, integration and overall programme management. Babcock is responsible for detailed production planning, purchasing and manufacture at its Devonport dockyard facility. A single project office, located at Supacat’s facility in Dunkeswell, Devon, provides overall control.
You can read more about the Coyote launch at the BBC news website
For further information, please contact:
Ed Lloyd Owen on 020 7993 3833 or email [email protected] (Supacat) OR
Sarah Manwaring-White on 01451 844 488 or email [email protected] (Babcock)
About Supacat Ltd
Supacat specialises in the design and development of high mobility vehicles and other specialist transport systems for military and civil customers. The company was founded in 1981 to develop the Supacat 6×6 high mobility vehicle and is a UK centre of excellence in all terrain transport technology. Designed by Supacat, the HMT vehicle is manufactured under licence from Lockheed Martin. From its facility at Dunkeswell, Devon, UK, it employs 105 people across a range of engineering disciplines, including design, testing and prototype manufacture through to maintenance, repair and overhaul and low rate production. It provides a complete support management service for its own as well as other manufacturers’ vehicles.
Supacat has a strong, proven background in military vehicle design, including the potent Jackal, a 4×4 mobile, weapons-mounted, long-range patrol vehicle, with its high level of mobility and protection, and 6×6 Military Enhancement Programme (MEP) version – both of which are variants of Supacat’s original High Mobility Transporter (HMT) concept.
About Babcock International Group PLC
Babcock is a FTSE 250 company, and one of the UK’s leading support services organisations with an order book at £5.7 billion and recorded revenue of £ 1.9 billion in 2008. Among the sectors in which it operates, Babcock is a leading through-life defence specialist. Through its Marine division it is the UK’s leading naval support business and is the largest support provider to the Royal Navy.
Within Babcock’s Marine division, its Land Systems business is geared to building and supporting military vehicles. OEM independent and working closely with a number of vehicle designers and prime contractors, with a proven track record in military vehicle production, Babcock is recognised for delivering high quality within tight lead times. Its skilled and experienced workforce at all levels, combined with the understanding and ability to apply techniques such as continuous improvement manufacturing processes, and effective supply chain management, ensures successful projects.
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